Bhimashankar Temple, Maharashtra

Bhimashankar Temple or Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga is one of the Jyotirlinga of lord Shiva among 12 Jyotirlinga in India.

Bhimashankar Temple is one of the remote jyotirling among all the jyotirlinga as Kedarnath.

It was month of December, and also vacation time, planning since long to visit Bhimashankar temple. Finally it was decided to visit with my entire family, as we have our own resort in Bhimashankar called Natraj Holiday Resort, which is exactly 9 Kms before the Bhimashankar Temple on the same road.

My brother, Mom and dad visited quiet few times, but I never visited, finally its my time to visit one more pilgrimage for my Blog and we start from Pune by 12 in afternoon. As I was going 1st time and I was unaware of the route so I followed my brother’s car, it was non-stop drive from Pune to Bhimashankar.

Pune to Bhimashankar

There are 2 routes you can opt from, exit from Pune to Shivaji Nagar and take old Mumbai Pune road almost in 35 to 40 Minutes you will reach Nigdi and took straight road to chakan and then rajgurunagar. You can take left from rajgurunagar or go straight on SH50 towards manchar and take left.

Bhimashankar temple is 51 Kms. from Manchar, as I will advise you to take same route while going to bhimashankar and while coming from bhimashankar take another route, turn left from taleghar towards Rajgurunagar. You will enjoy the driving if you are driving freak in Ghats. Road is narrow but you will not find traffic.

Natraj Holiday Resort at Bhimashankar

We reached at Bhimashankar by Evening at 5, and enjoyed the evening at Natraj Holiday Resort, it was informed at resort well in advance about my Family Visit at Bhimashankar.

Deluxe Double Bedded Room

And arrangement at resort was very nice all the people and staff are very kind in nature and also they were happy for our family Visit.

My Mom, my Wife and my Bhabhi at Restaurant

We decided to visit Jyotirlinga in next day morning, So we planned many activities at night, we played cricket, volleyball, at Resort Premises. There are few Playing Instrument also at Resort Garden my whole family had Jhula Ride and many more.

My Family Enjoying in Garden at Natraj Holiday Resort, Bhimashankar

There was special arrangement of Fire camp as it was Little Cold weather. And dinner arrangement was awesome in garden area of the resort.

Enjoying Campfire at night

Morning we reached at Temple by 11, there was small queue for Jyotirling Darshan but for us it was special arrangement and we took darshan in 15 Min. you have step down at least 120 to 130 Steps towards Temple from the Entrance of the temple.

Entrance of Bhimashankar temple

You can also get Palkhiwalla who takes to temple from the entrance specially for Handicap or Old Age people. They charges 700 to 800 per person. Bhimashankar Bus Depot is close to temple.

By 2 Big Brothers

I would like share some fact about bhimashankar Temple, Bhimashankar is one of the jyotirlinga among twelve jyotirlinga dedicated to Lord Shiva in form of Shiva Lingas.

All the 12 Jotirlinga believed to be very sacred by Hindus, situated in different states of India.

This Temple is made up of several elements combination of new and old structure in the Nagra style of Architecture. Nana Phadnavis of Peshwa who has Develop Sabhamandap in the 18th Century. The great Maratha Ruler Shivaji is said to have made endowment to this temple to facilitated worship services.

Near Bhimashankar Temple , there is very small village having around 150 to 250 houses . People have no other resources to earn apart from selling pooja and prasad items. There are few many thing and interesting place to visit, as i was unlucky to visit all these place, but I will insist you all to visit.

There are Buddha style carvings of Amba-Ambika, Bhootling and Bhimashankar in the hills of Manmaad near Bhimashankar at a height of 1034 metres.

A big bell in Hemadpanthi structure built by Nana Phadanavis is a feature of Bhimashankar.

Places that can be visited in are Hanuman Lake, Gupt Bhimashankar, Origin of River Bhima, Nag Phani, Bombay Point, Sakshi Vinayak and a lot more.

Three worship services are offered every day. Maha Shivratri is a season of great festivity here.

Timings:

Mandir open – 4:30 am

Aarti – 4:45 am to 5.00 am

Nijrup (Original shivlinga)darshan – 5:00 am to 5.30 am

Normal Darshans and Abhishekam – 5:30 am to 2:30 pm.

No Abhishekam between – 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm.

Maha Puja (Naivedya Pooja) – 12.00 pm. to 12.30 pm

Aarti – 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Shringar Darshans – 3:30 am to 9:30 pm.

Aarti – 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm

(Except Pradosham on Monday or Amavasya or Grahan or Mahashivratri. Kartihik Month, Shravan Month — No Mukut and no Shringar Darshans).

How to get there

The route to Bhimashankar from Pune is via Manchar. The second route is from Rajgurunagar via Wada. One can go to this place, full of natural beauty and lovely scenery, and be back to Pune in one day. Bhimashankar is a good paradise for nature lovers, trekkers, jungle lovers and bird watchers. The best seasons to go are monsoon and winter.

Bhimashankar to Pune Via Taleghar, Rajgurunagar

From Mumbai

If coming from Mumbai, take Pune road. About 31.02 km from Deonar traffic junction lies the Mumbai Pune Expressway (NH-4) after crossing Navi Mumbai and Panvel. After 52 km from Panvel is Lonavala and 50 km from there is on NH-4 is Wadgaon. At Wadgaon, turn left on State Highway towards Chakan which is about 12 km. At Chakan, take NH 50 towards Manchar which is around 65 km to Bhimashankar.

From Pune

If starting from Pune, drive along the Pune-Nasik highway and turn off at the road leading to Bhimashankar. The mountain road is quite a steep climb. The distance is about 160 km from Pune.

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